Imperial Cultivation Chapter 5 - 5 5 Beginning Practice

Zou Fang stood still at the threshold of the study, clad in a blue gown, clutching a White Jade Dust Brush. Within the room, Chu Zhiyuan reclined lazily in his chair, his gaze fixed on the bowing Feng Xi with a wry smile. It was immediately apparent to him that something had gone wrong.

“You failed to capture them?” Chu Zhiyuan inquired, taking a relaxed sip from his tea.

“I report to the Princely Heir, this servant is incompetent; I allowed them to slip away.”

“Were those two truly such formidable opponents?” Chu Zhiyuan asked. The disparity between the Innate and Grandmaster levels should have been overwhelming, yet their escape highlighted exactly how dangerous they were.

“Their Disguise Technique was extraordinary. As they vanished into the crowd, their appearances shifted and their auras dissipated, leaving no trail behind.” Chu Zhiyuan mused, sipping his tea again. Such secret arts were rare; in a world teeming with martial arts, a skill designed for counter-tracking was highly unusual. This only heightened his curiosity about their true origins. After a moment, he asked, “And you are certain they were unaware of your presence?”

“They likely did not detect this servant.”

“Could they be agents from the Court?”

Feng Xi hesitated before Chu Zhiyuan prodded, “Were they both from the Court?”

Feng Xi quickly clarified, “The second individual likely does not belong to the Military Suppression Department.” Experts of that Department typically come from the military or the Four Great Sects, and Feng Xi was certain only one of the pair bore the hallmarks of their training.

Chu Zhiyuan arose, pacing behind his desk with his hands clasped firmly behind him. While the Four Great Sects, Eight Major Clans, and numerous schools flourished in the current age of martial cultivation, the Court remained the supreme power. The Military Suppression Department existed to curb the excesses of martial artists and operated under the direct command of the Emperor, holding a unique, detached status. If they were tracking him under the Emperor’s orders, there was no cause for alarm, but the presence of an unidentified third party demanded caution.

“Princely Heir,” Feng Xi proposed, “Liang Guanjie is our best operative for tracking and surveillance. May I take him with me tomorrow?”

Chu Zhiyuan called out, “Zou Fang, summon Liang Guanjie here immediately.”

Moments later, the stout man entered. Dressed in brocade, the middle-aged Liang looked more like a wealthy, jovial grandfather than a master of martial arts. He offered a respectful salute. Chu Zhiyuan went straight to the point: “Old Liang, tomorrow you will trail the Heirs of the Tenth and Thirteenth Uncles. Watch for any tails, but be extremely careful not to be spotted.” He wondered if he was their only target or merely one of many. Should he be the sole focus, he would have to prepare more proactive measures.

Since Liang Guanjie was only at the Innate realm compared to Feng Xi’s Grandmaster status, he would need the veteran with him. “Have no fear, Princely Heir, it is a simple matter,” Liang promised with a grin.

When Chu Zhiyuan asked if there were other scouts, Feng Xi’s hesitation confirmed the lack of personnel. Liang Guanjie sheepishly admitted that the mansion’s previous trackers had retired five years prior to pursue wealth. Chu Zhiyuan commanded, “Recruit help from your old colleagues.”

Liang looked troubled. “The three comrades I am thinking of serve in the City Guard Office, and their duties keep them occupied.”

“What about their integrity?”

“They are honest men who struggle with politics; that is exactly why they remain in such lowly positions.”

“Ask them to join us; offer them positions as mansion guards.” Chu Zhiyuan was acutely aware of his need for talent. Intelligence was vital, and even in his current state, the Prince Qing Mansion offered three times the pay and far less drudgery than the City Guards, not to mention more time for personal cultivation. With the mansion now unsealed, such positions would surely be coveted.

Liang Guanjie’s eyes brightened. “Leave it to me, Princely Heir!”

Chu Zhiyuan instructed Feng Xi to work with these new recruits to uncover the mysterious scout's background. After ensuring that Liang would vet his friends thoroughly, Chu Zhiyuan dismissed them. Once alone with Feng Xi, he confirmed that despite Liang’s penchant for boasting, his skills were steady. Still, he warned Feng Xi to conduct a thorough background check on these potential recruits to ensure no risks were invited into the house.

After Feng Xi withdrew, Chu Zhiyuan stepped into the courtyard. The Listening Wave Courtyard was filled with the soft rustling of bamboo, illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns. He gazed at the stars and the moon, wondering about the link between this world and his own. As the clouds parted, he suddenly moved, his body flickering across the courtyard. The Near and Far Steps technique was already showing promise.

Mastering the complexルート of Inner Strength required for this technique was grueling, as it traversed meridians not found in standard scrolls, ending at the Yongquan points. He found, however, that his altered mental state allowed him to memorize the flow instantly, turning the complex movement into instinct far faster than any normal cultivator. He was, in essence, a prodigy.

Yet, he remained grounded; without a high realm, these skills were mere window dressing. He focused on his cultivation, pushing his movement span from ten feet to fifteen, finally hitting his limit due to his current level of Inner Qi. He then spent the rest of the night practicing the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique, a burst-type art that suited his swift style perfectly. By the time the moon set, his body hummed with the toll of his training. Collapsing onto the couch to recover, he focused his mind on the Jade Lock Gold Barrier Skill, fully aware of the immense physical cost his rapid advancement had demanded.